Farmers from various parts of the country including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh reached the nation’s capital under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Sunday to support wrestlers who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for more than two weeks against Indian Wrestling Federation (WFI) and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, demanding his dismissal and arrest following allegations of sexual harassment by wrestlers.
LIVE UPDATES: WRESTLERS PROTEST
Farmers who were escorted to Jantar Mantar were in a “rush” to reach the protest site and therefore “climbed” the barricades, Delhi police said.
“A group of farmers were escorted to the Jantar Mantar of Delhi. At the entrance barricades, they were in a hurry to reach the Dharna site in which some of them scaled the barricades which fell and were removed by them. Jantar Mantar protesters are Entry is regulated by DFMD to ensure safety. Please remain peaceful and obey the law,” the Delhi Police said.
The protesting wrestlers made it clear that they would not budge until they got justice and Brij Bhushan was stripped as WFI chief and put behind bars.
The wrestlers also held a candlelight march in Delhi on Sunday.
Medalist at World Championships and Commonwealth Games Vinesh Phogat said on Sunday that a “big call” would be taken by protesting wrestlers if the WFI president was not arrested by May 21.
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“The decision that has been made in this fight for justice is that if something is not done by May 21, if our demands (to arrest Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) are not met during this time, then we’ll have to take a big call,” Vinesh said speaking to the media.
Vinesh said their request was to have Brij Bhushan arrested.
On their future struggle amid the protests, Vinesh said: “We are going to compete. If God presents an opportunity in front of us, then we will definitely play. We always try to practice as much as possible during protests, trying to find time for it and to plan our workout schedule,” Vinesh said.
On April 23, Bajrang PunishedVinesh and Sakshi Malik returned to the protest site at Jantar Mantar, saying six female wrestlers and a minor had filed a sexual harassment complaint against Brij Bhushan at Connaught Place Police Station, but Delhi Police did not register an FIR.
Protesting wrestlers also demanded that the Sports Ministry make the findings of the oversight committee public.
Delhi Police filed two FIRs on April 28 following the Supreme Court’s opinion.
Earlier this year, prominent wrestlers came forward to lead a protest against the WFI chief, following which the Union Ministry of Youth and Sports announced the formation of a “Committee of Oversight” to investigate allegations against WFI, Brij Bhushan and some coaches.
